Laguna Woods has become the first city in Orange County to prohibit smokers from lighting up on their home patios.

The City Council on Wednesday gave final approval to an amendment to its smoking ordinance that prohibits smoking on patios and balconies. The new law, which will go into effect in 30 days, applies whether the patios are open or enclosed, although residents would be allowed to smoke on enclosed patios if all patio windows and doors are closed.

The city has received 12 e-mails and letters from residents, seven of whom opposed the new restriction, City Manager Leslie Keane said. Resident and former smoker Shari Horne was satisfied with the decision.

“I think it will help clean up the air, and (smoking) is dangerous,” Horne said.

Peggy Ritsi is for it, too, but figures her guests won’t be. Ritsi, 76, calls the restriction “a great inconvenience” – and she means great – since those guests will have to leave her home to smoke because she doesn’t allowing it inside. That said, she thinks the change is an invasion of privacy.

“It’s not up to the city, it’s up to the individual,” Ritsi said.

Laguna Woods – home to the retirement community of Laguna Woods Village – adopted its smoking ordinance in 2004, adding to county and state smoking laws a prohibition against smoking in enclosed and unenclosed public areas. Two years later, the ordinance was amended to include shared carports and entryways in multifamily residential buildings.

Wednesday’s action leapfrogs the city ahead of the rest of Orange County, according to a spokesperson from the American Heart Association, and the enforcement policy relies on complaints from residents.

Violations would not need to be witnessed by a code enforcement officer for citations to be issued. Instead, the ordinance would allow the city to issue citations “upon receipt of complaints from more than one individual and following a warning and education process,” according to a staff report. Residents may make anonymous complaints, but Keane said the city would not issue a citation solely on an anonymous complaint. A citation carries a fine of up to $50.

Sylvia Zuckerberg, 89, of Laguna Woods, said she supported the policy because she hates the smell of cigarette smoke, but she felt for the smokers.

“That must put a big strain on them, the only thing they can do is quit and that’s hard,” Zuckerberg said.

Denny Welch, a resident and a smoker, said she understands the city is doing what it feels is best for the majority of residents and she will not smoke on her patio now.

“I know I’ve got a bad habit, but I don’t want to harm other people either,” Welch said. “All I want to do is to be able to do it in my own home.”

That’s somewhat of a concern, according to Orange County Fire Authority Capt. Greg McKeown. He said the fire authority advises smokers to light up outdoors if possible. Fire officials also advise people not to smoke while impaired, in bed or in a home where oxygen is being used.

Fires caused by smoking cost Orange County homeowners about $1.6 million each year in property loss, according to OCFA. In the last six years, there were 267 fires caused by smoking in homes in the fire authority’s district and four deaths resulted from those fires.